Existed: 1931 – present Constructed 1931 | Length 271.5 km | |
South end: NH 4 in Rollinsford, NH North end: Haines Landing in Rangeley Major cities Auburn, Sanford, Farmington, Gorham, Windham, Jay Counties York County, Maine, Cumberland County, Maine, Androscoggin County, Maine, Franklin County, Maine | ||
State Route 4 (abbreviated SR 4) is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, a major highway located in the south central part of the state. Its southern terminus is at the New Hampshire border in South Berwick, where it connects to New Hampshire Route 4. Its northern terminus is at Haines Landing on Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Rangeley. SR 4 is 168.7 miles (271.5 km) long.
Contents
- Map of ME 4 Maine USA
- South Berwick to Auburn
- Auburn to Farmington
- Farmington to Rangeley
- History
- Concurrent routes
- Auxiliary routes
- Southern segment
- Junction list
- Northern segment
- References
Map of ME-4, Maine, USA
Approximately one-third of the overall length of SR 4 is overlapped by U.S. Route 202.
South Berwick to Auburn
SR 4 begins at the New Hampshire state line, where the roadway continues south as NH 4 towards Dover. From South Berwick, SR 4 runs in a northeasterly direction through the town of North Berwick, bypassing the center of Sanford to the east, and intersects with US 202 in Alfred. SR 4 runs concurrently with US 202 for 56.0 miles (90.1 km) to the city of Auburn via the towns of Gorham, Windham and Gray.
Auburn to Farmington
North of Auburn, SR 4 continues northward, staying near the west bank of the Androscoggin River, through the town of Turner, to Livermore, where it crosses the river to Livermore Falls.SR 4 continues to an intersection with US 2 in Wilton, and runs concurrently with it for 7.8 miles (12.6 km) to Farmington.
Farmington to Rangeley
SR 4 follows the Sandy River north of Farmington, through the towns of Strong and Phillips, and west to the river's source near Saddleback Mountain. The road turns north to Rangeley, where it turns west and runs concurrently with SR16 at Oquossoc. SR 4 meets SR 17, then continues northwest to its terminus at Haines Landing on the shores of Mooselookmeguntic Lake.
History
SR 4 was conceived in 1931 as a continuation of U.S. Route 4 in New Hampshire, hence its number. Although US 4 does come close to the Maine border, the intended connection never came to fruition, as US 4 was routed south of Dover to terminate in Portsmouth. Instead, an indirect connection exists, facilitated by NH 4, NH 9, and NH 16 (the Spaulding Turnpike). Because the state of New Hampshire also numbered the extension of SR 4 into New Hampshire as NH 4, there exist two routes within Dover numbered 4.
As first designated in 1931, SR 4 extended from its current southern terminus in South Berwick all the way to the Canada–US border. By 1937, most of the routes that are currently cosigned with it had been designated, most notably US 202. In 1946, SR 4 was truncated to its southern intersection with SR 16 in Rangeley, but was later re-extended along SR 16 to terminate at its current end at Haines Landing in 1951 (the road between SR 16 and Haine's Landing had previously been designated SR 144). Most of former SR 4 between SR 16 and the Canada–US border is now part of SR 27.
Concurrent routes
Auxiliary routes
State Route 4A is the designation for two separate, but closely located, state highways in southeastern Maine, both located in York County. Although they are not directly connected to one another, they are linked by their parent highway, SR 4 (as well as US 202, which is concurrent with SR 4 over this stretch).
Southern segment
The southern segment of SR 4A runs between the towns of Sanford and Alfred, and is multiplexed over its entire 6.5-mile (10.5 km) length. It is a service route for Sanford which SR 4 bypasses to the east.
SR 4A begins at an intersection with SR 4 and SR 109 south of town. SR 4A and SR 109 run concurrently to the northwest into the center of town, where they intersect with US 202 and SR 11. SR 11 splits off US 202 to join SR 109 to the northwest, while SR 4A joins US 202 to the northeast. US 202 and SR 4A run concurrently to the northeast, crossing into Alfred before intersecting with SR 4 and SR 111. SR 4A ends at this intersection, US 202 turns north to join SR 4 and SR 111 begins to the east.
Junction list
The entire route is in York County.
Northern segment
The northern segment of SR 4A is the shorter of the two, running just 4.0 miles (6.4 km). This segment begins at an intersection between US 202, SR 4, and SR 35 in Hollis. SR 4A and SR 35 share a brief concurrency before SR 4A splits off to the east, crossing SR 117 in the process. The highway continues to the east into the town of Buxton. SR 4A then crosses SR 112 before terminating at US 202 and SR 4.
Junction list
The entire route is in York County.